On March 13, 2025, the Inter-American Dialogue hosted an in-person roundtable with Marta Lagos, founder and director of Latinobarómetro, and Juan Gabriel Valdés, Ambassador of Chile to the United States, to discuss the organization’s 2024 report. As Dr. Rebecca Bill Chavez noted in her opening remarks, Latinobarómetro has, for three decades, given voice to millions of citizens, revealing shifts in democratic values, trust in institutions, and economic expectations. She emphasized that the 2024 report, entitled Democratic Resilience, offers reasons for optimism at a time when the dominant narrative among policymakers, academics, and civil society is that we are facing a global democratic recession. Although Lagos and her team point out that challenges such as distrust in institutions persist, the report points to three positive trends: an increase in the belief that democracy is the best form of government, increased optimism about the economy, and growing support for regional integration.
Marta Lagos began her remarks by highlighting reasons for optimism about the future of democracy in Latin America. She noted that in 2024, the percentage of respondents who support democracy had risen to 52 percent, marking an increase from 2023 and reaching the highest level of support in 14 years. Lagos rejected the notion that democracy is dying, asserting that while flawed, it remains very much alive. However, the reality is complex. Key challenges, including low support for political parties and legislatures along with corruption and rising levels of crime and violence, continue to challenge democratic consolidation.
She then turned to her findings about perceptions regarding the economy. While one-third of people believe their country’s economy will not improve, half expect their personal financial situation to get better. This gap between individuals’ perceptions of their own economic situation and their view of the country’s economy is what Lagos calls “expectation pressure”.
Lagos also highlighted strong public support for regional integration, a surprising trend given the current fragmentation among countries. There is a strong consensus, with 83 percent of Latin Americans supporting regional economic integration. However, when it comes to migration, public opinion is more divided. In 2023, 51 percent of respondents felt that incoming migrants had a negative impact on them, and 52 percent believed migrants competed for local jobs. Lagos highlighted this contradiction, noting that integration cannot be achieved without the movement and inclusion of people.
During his closing remarks, Ambassador Valdés reflected on key issues raised during the discussion and highlighted further democratic challenges for the region. One major concern is growing polarization. Another pressing issue is the rise of urban violence, particularly in countries like Chile, where the current levels of insecurity were previously unheard of. He pointed to the crucial role of civil society and social movements in ensuring democratic accountability and legitimacy. Finally, the Ambassador noted that U.S. political developments will greatly influence how Latin Americans perceive and engage with democracy in their own countries, underscoring the region’s interconnected democratic trends. In the meantime, he noted, tools like the Latinobarómetro remain crucial for shaping informed and transparent discussions and policymaking.
This event was by invitation only.
